Spring that catches the eye
New leaves open in a vivid, clear red, creating a bright wave of colour just as the garden wakes.
10
Acer 'Beni Maiko'® 19cm
Normal price
€35,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Acer palmatum 'Beni Maiko'
Buy one. Fall in love every autumn 🍁
- Brilliant red spring growth
- Multi-coloured autumn foliage
- Compact bushy crown
- For pots and small gardens
Acer palmatum ‘Beni-maiko’® is a living work of seasonal colour, transforming the space again and again. Spring growth emerges brilliant red, softens through pink and moves into green with red notes in summer, before the crown ignites in yellow, orange and deep red during autumn. This continuous progression makes every view feel different and gives a garden or terrace the refined, collectable presence of a plant that never stands visually still.
Its dense, bushy and almost rounded form brings calm precision to the setting, while the small palmate leaves preserve a fine texture even outside peak colour. It works beautifully as a compact focal point, an elegant specimen in an outdoor pot or a colour bridge between perennials and lower shrubs.
RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit — ‘Beni-maiko’ has been recognised for reliable performance in appropriate conditions.
What makes it special
Three distinct qualities explain why ‘Beni-maiko’® stands out from its first spring leaves to autumn leaf fall.
Three seasons, a new palette
Foliage moves from red to pink and green-red, then completes the year in yellow, orange and deep crimson shades.
A naturally compact silhouette
The dense bushy crown stays balanced and elegant, delivering strong presence without the scale of a large maple.
Why you will love it: It combines the drama of a Japanese maple with dimensions and a form that genuinely fit everyday outdoor spaces.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A compact focal point in sheltered partial shade, with clear space around the crown
Where its full seasonal transformation can be seen
Place it alone in an outdoor pot, near an entrance or seating area, or in the middle layer of a cool mixed planting. The mature bushy crown reaches approximately 1–1.5 m in height and spread, so it deserves clear visual space around it.
For two or more plants allowed to keep their natural outline, leave approximately 1.2–1.5 m from centre to centre. In a pot, prioritise long-term stability, free drainage and protection of the root zone from overheating.
Combinations that work
The red, pink, green and fiery autumnal palette of ‘Beni Maiko’ becomes clearer beside yellow lines, cream stripes and orange-red ferns. All three choices suit bright partial shade and organic soil with even moisture and good drainage, creating clean layers around the Acer’s natural form.
- Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ — keeps a fine evergreen yellow line in the foreground and lights up the compact multi-season crown throughout the year
- Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Little Tabby’ — its small cream-striped clumps stay low and add fine detail beside the compact multi-season crown
- Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ — its orange-red new fronds repeat the warm tones and give an airy counterweight to the compact multi-season crown
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or a few hours of morning sun; protect from fierce midday sun and drying winds.
Watering
Water thoroughly as the surface begins to dry; keep evenly moist but never waterlogged, checking pots more often.
Climate & hardiness
Deciduous and hardy in winter cold; fresh leaves need shelter from late frost, hot wind and extreme summer heat.
Safety
An ornamental plant, not food. It is not intended for consumption; discourage children and pets from chewing plant material.
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, microclimate, ground planting, pots, growing medium, watering, feeding, pruning and the winter cycle
Light & microclimate
Provide bright partial shade or morning sun with afternoon protection, especially in southern Greece. A position sheltered from hot, drying winds reduces the risk of dry margins on the delicate leaves.
Planting in the ground
Plant in fertile, organic, acid to neutral soil that retains moisture yet drains freely. Keep the crown at surrounding soil level and allow it to develop without pressure from larger shrubs.
Growing in a pot
Use a roomy, stable outdoor pot with unobstructed drainage holes and a structured growing medium that does not collapse. Protect the root zone from fierce afternoon heat and refresh part of the mix when it becomes crowded.
Watering & cool roots
Water thoroughly when the upper layer begins to dry and allow surplus water to drain away. Organic mulch in the ground or a fine gravel layer in a pot reduces sudden changes in moisture and root-zone temperature.
Feeding & clean foliage
A light application of balanced fertiliser at the start of spring is usually sufficient. Avoid excess nitrogen and late feeding, which encourage soft growth that is more vulnerable to exposure.
Pruning & the winter cycle
Pruning is rarely needed. Remove only dead, damaged or awkwardly crossing shoots after leaf fall and before midwinter to reduce sap bleeding. A bare crown in winter is completely normal.
Development over timeFrom a young maple to a compact multi-season crownEarly establishment gradually gives way to dense branching and increasingly rich seasonal colour
First establishment
After planting, fresh growth may remain modest while the root system settles. Even moisture and a sheltered microclimate matter more than rapid top growth.
The crown fills out
Fine branches develop into a broad, almost rounded bushy form. Its natural architecture is most attractive when it is not clipped into a rigid outline.
A mature seasonal rhythm
With maturity it repeats its signature cycle each year: red spring, pink and green-red summer, then yellow, orange and deep red before leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity 5–10 yearsHeight 1–1.5 mSpread 1–1.5 mCompact rounded crown
Indicative natural silhouette; verified mature dimensions 1–1.5 m high × 1–1.5 m wide.
The palette through the year
Deciduous
Spring → summerRed, pink and green-red
AutumnYellow, orange and deep red
The crown is naturally bare in winter. Colour intensity and timing vary with light, temperature and microclimate.
What to expect after planting: In favourable conditions it reaches approximately 1–1.5 m in height and spread over 5–10 years. Growth usually remains more restrained in a pot and depends more strongly on available root space and summer care.
History & origin Cultivar origin Esveld, 1989 · RHS recognition, 2012
In 1989, Esveld nursery in Boskoop, the Netherlands, added Acer palmatum ‘Beni Maiko’ to its range. This introduction marks a documented stage in the cultivar’s journey through European horticulture.
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit followed in 2012, recognising its value as a garden plant. Vivid rosy-red spring foliage remains its most distinctive feature. Internationally, the name is also written ‘Beni-maiko’.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Palmatum horticultural group
In the horticultural classification of Japanese maples, this cultivar belongs to the Palmatum Group: its leaves usually have five to seven lobes, cut beyond halfway into the blade without the fine secondary division of the Dissectum Group.
RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit
‘Beni-maiko’ holds the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit, recognising dependable performance when grown in appropriate conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers covering sun, seasonal colour, pots, leaf scorch, pruning and winter leaf fall.
01How much sun will it tolerate in Greece?
Choose a few hours of morning sun or bright partial shade. Fierce afternoon sun, especially with dry wind or a dry root zone, can scorch the leaf margins.
02Why does the foliage change colour through the year?
This is a natural cultivar characteristic. Leaves open red, turn pink and then green with red notes, before moving through yellow, orange and deep red in autumn.
03Can it remain permanently in a pot?
Yes, its compact growth suits a large outdoor pot very well. It needs free drainage, even moisture, shade around the roots and periodic checks on the available root space.
04What do brown leaf margins mean?
They are usually an aesthetic response to strong sun, hot or dry wind, or uneven root moisture and do not normally affect the plant’s natural vigour. A more sheltered position and consistent watering help the foliage stay at its best.
05Does it need pruning to hold its shape?
Usually not; its natural outline is central to its beauty. If cleaning is needed, work after leaf fall and before midwinter, removing only what is necessary.
06Is it normal for the plant to be bare in winter?
Yes. It is deciduous and sheds its leaves in autumn after completing its colour cycle. Fresh growth returns in spring.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.